The Sower 

This charcoal study, "The Sower," by French artist Jean-François Millet is a preparatory sketch for one of his most iconic paintings. Created sometime before 1850, it depicts a peasant farmer in the act of scattering seed, capturing the laborious rhythms of rural life. The artist's use of rapid, expressive lines creates a sense of dynamism and immediacy, conveying the sower's purposeful stride across the field. The sketch's simplicity and directness demonstrate Millet's focus on capturing the essence of human labor and the beauty of the natural world.